News Update - 2006-07

Basketball Round-Up - Perfect League Record for Academy Men

Hackney Community College's Basketball Academy teams advanced to the National Finals of both the British Colleges (BCS) and English Schools Academies Cups (ESBBA) with victories over Moulton College Academy and York College Academy last week. The U19 Women booked a place in BCS Final against Richard Huish College from Taunton with a 69/13 semi final win over former champions Moulton from Northampton. The Men's semi proved a much closer affair as a stubborn and talented Moulton side put up stiff resistance as HCCA ran out winners 86/67. They take on Filton College Academy at SPACe this Wed 16/5 and look to win the BCS Cup for the 3rd year running. The U19 Men then took their place in the ESBBA Final with a 110/69 win over York College Academy. HCCA Men take on Barking Abbey Academy on 24/5 in the Final. Again, they'll be looking for a hat trick of wins.

Last Friday, HCCA Men played their toughest match of the season against former Middlesex League Champions Rocco's Raiders in the semi final of the London Metropolitan League Cup. In a high-quality and physically gruelling encounter, HCCA ran out 98/87 winners thanks to a match high 26pts from Leigh Cascoe, aided by double-figure contributions from Courtney Van-Beest (18), Eddie Morrison (17) and Darrell Bethune (11) HCCA will now look to win the LMBL Cup for the first time in 5 attempts when they play MacPro South East in the Final this coming Sunday 20/5.

HCCA Men will be looking to make it a League and Cup double following ending the LMBL Premier League season with a perfect 18/0 record. After securing the title last week, HCCA completed League programme with a 68/54 away win against 05/06 Champions Camden Knights. They then took on relegation threatened Westside away in their final fixture fielding a much weakened squad missing 3 of their starting 5 and just 6 players in total. In contrast, Westside were 12 deep including 7 players from their Senior Men's National League squad. Amazingly, HCCA secured an 81/74 win with Ali Fullah and Dave Ajumobi hitting 21pts each aided by 11 from Tom Hughes. Player/Coach Sol Ayinla rolled back the years with a match-high 23pts. The 43yr old former London Towers BBL player arrived in time for the start of the 2nd quarter as the 5 HCCA men had managed to hold Westside to just a 17/13 lead. The second quarter proved equally tight as Westside were held to just a 4pt advantage at the break 29/25. However, the veteran Ayinla took over in the 3rd hitting 17pts in the quarter as HCCA out-scored Westside 35/13 to take 60/42 lead into the final stanza. Westside came back hard at an understandably tiring HCCA in the 4th as Olu Odigan drained 17pts including 3 consecutive treys as they out-scored HCCA 32/21. However, it proved too little too late as Dave Ajumobi and Ali Fullah scored vital baskets to keep Westside at arm's length, assisted by fantastic defence from Faruq Bilal and Tom Hughes, with Oliver Ladlow coming off the bench to good effect as HCCA clung on for a memorable 7pt win to end their 06/07 campaign on the right note.

It's Finals all the way now for HCCA Men and Women:

BCS National Cup Finals - 16/5 at SPACe HCCA U19 Women v Richard Huish (1300)

HCCA U19 Men v Filton College (1530)

LMBL Cup Final - Sun 20/5 - HCCA Men v MacPro South East (Hendon Police College) 1700

ESBBA National Women's Cup Final - Wed 23/5 at SPACe - HCCA v Barking Abbey

ESBBA National Men's Cup Final - Thu 24/5 at Barking Abbey - HCCA v Barking Abbey

For further information, contact Chris Morris via this email address or call him on 07786-485223.

Chris Morris

14/5/07

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